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The problem with absorption panels- it kills the fine details

If you’ve ever removed your absorption panels, you’ll find that you’ll hear a lot more detail and there is more openness. Truth is all those fine pressure amplitudes that add so much to enjoyable listening are considerably extinguished with absorption panels. The room seems quieter with absorption panels because all the fine detail is diminished.

It sounds different, so people think it sounds better. Absorption panels can kill good sounding music. I removed most of the absorption panels, and things actually sounded better. All the furniture in the room and the bookshelves were doing their thing in a great way. So I’ve concluded I really don’t need all that crap on the walls.

emergingsoul

Showing 1 response by avanti1960

avanti1960
1,569 posts
 

over doing it with acoustic panels can deaden the sound too much.  however unless the panels block the direct radiating sound of your speakers you are not losing detail.  what you are losing is sound reflected by adjacent surfaces mixing with the direct sound, slightly out of phase causing a bit of distortion that sounds like added detail. 

my room has 4 absorption / diffusion panels on the wall behind the speakers.  i left 1 foot gaps between the panels to allow some reflection.  

i have no side or ceiling panels, my speakers are far enough from side walls to avoid side reflections.  i hear plenty of detail and have a smooth response.  

rooms that have panels on every open inch of wall and ceiling space are over doing it.  

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